Update: Costa Cruises Tweaks Costa Atlantica Itinerary

February 21, 2009

In response to the general work strike in Guadeloupe, which will continue until at least Monday, Costa Cruises has altered the itinerary for Costa Atlantica.

Costa Atlantica made an abbreviated call in Guadeloupe this morning from 8 to 11 a.m. to allow passengers who were arriving on specific chartered flights to board the ship, and disembark those who were catching flights. (On certain Costa voyages, rather than having fixed embarkation/debarkation ports, passengers have some choice as to where they get on and off the ship.) Local passengers also disembarked. Costa made the decision after local authorities told the cruise line that Guadeloupe Point-a-Pitre Airport could guarantee flight arrivals and departures during the daytime only.

The ship will next head to nearby Antigua, where it will call today from 4:30 p.m. until 1 a.m. on Sunday, before heading to St. Maarten on Sunday afternoon from 1 to 6 p.m.

In the past week, several lines decided to avoid the islands of Guadeloupe and Martinique following violent protests spurred by dipping wages and the soaring cost of living. The French government's offer of a $736 million aid package has reportedly brought some calm, but no agreement has yet been reached to end the general strike. Negotiations will resume on Monday.